Sports Reporter :
Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh bade good-bye to AFC Cup as they settled for a 1-1 draw with ATK Mohun Bagan of India in their crucial Group-D match at the National Football Stadium in Male, the capital city of Maldives on Tuesday. ATK Mohun Bagan emerged the Group-D champions bagging seven points from three matches, while Bashundhara Kings became runners-up earning five points from three matches.
Mohun Bagan reached the semi-finals of the Inter-Zone playoff stage, while Bashundhara Kings failed to reach the next round.
Bashundhara led the first half 1-0.
Jonathon of Bashundhara Kings put his team ahead by a power-packed angular shot in the 28th minute of the play.
Coming at the end of an often-fiery opening period where no fewer than four Bashundhara players, as well as ATK Mohun Bagan’s Pritam Kotal had been booked, Tripura was given his marching orders following an incident in an aerial duel with Subhashish Bose. Thus Bashundhara became 10-man squad.
After the interval, Mohun Bagan’s Australian recruit David Williams leveled the margin by a spectacular shot in the 62nd minute of the game.
Earlier, Bashundhara got an easier opportunity in the 13th minute but Topu Barman’s header was cleared by Mohun Bagan’s defender.
After one minute, Bashundhara’s Argentine forward Raul’s long-range shot went wide. Liston Colaco of Mohun Bagan failed to tap the ball in the 19th minute of the match.
Mohun Bagan’s forward Roy Krishna’s bi-cycle kick failed to find the net in the 23rd minute of the match.
In the 84th minute of the game, Bashundhara’s Brazilian recruit Robson’s shot bounced back from the goalbar. Thus ill-fated Bashundhara ousted from the AFC Cup.
